To what extent was the assassination of the archduke of Austria the most important turning point in British foreign policy between 1902 and 1939?

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Introduction

To what extent was the assassination of the archduke of Austria the most important turning point in British foreign policy between 1902 and 1939? The two biggest events in British foreign policy between 1902 and 1939 were undoubtedly the first and second world wars. As these were such important events it is vital to understand what caused them. Some say that the Second World War was caused almost purely by the Versailles treaty in 1919, with all else, including the German invasion of Poland in 1939 happening indirectly due to the treaty. It is the same with the case of world war one, with many arguing that the German invasion of Belgium was important, as well as the assassination of the archduke of Austro-Hungary, Franz Ferdinand. ...read more.

Middle

and the Anglo Russian convention of 1907. The Kaiser attempted to destroy these ententes, especially the one signed with France in 1904. This was attempted through his perpetuating of the Moroccan crises of 1905 and 1911, whereby he attempted to force France out of morocco, hoping Britain would not support France. However, this attempt merely turned the entente between France and Britain into an informal alliance by 1912. There were many causes to the First World War, both long term and short term. The signing of these ententes and the build up of Anglo German hostilities was a long term cause, while the assassination of the archduke and the invasion of Belgium were both short term causes. ...read more.

Conclusion

and from Austria in 1938. Despite Britain putting up with this due to a policy of appeasement, after Germany invaded Poland in 1939 britain had to act, and declared war. So, in conclusion, it is possible to see that the long term causes of both the first and the Second World War, primarily the signing of the Anglo French entente in 1904 and the Versailles treaty in 1919, were far more important in leading to the wars. However, the short term causes, such as the assassination of the archduke, and the invasions of both Poland and Belgium were also fairly important, they were partly due to the Anglo German hostilities reaching a breaking point. The alliances signed at the start of the 1900's were not as important as the Anglo French entente, as they did not lead to anything more serious. ...read more.

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